-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It was a night for underdogs at the Golden Globes -- and a particularly rich one for the biggest underdog of them all , `` Slumdog Millionaire . ''

Dev Patel and Freida Pinto star in `` Slumdog Millionaire , '' which was named best drama at the Golden Globes .

The modestly budgeted movie -- about a poverty-raised orphan in Mumbai who goes on the Indian version of `` Who Wants to Be a Millionaire '' -- won awards for best drama , best director -LRB- Danny Boyle -RRB- , best screenplay -LRB- Simon Beaufoy -RRB- and best original score -LRB- A.R. Rahman -RRB- .

The victories were all the more astonishing given the film 's unlikely production history , which included cobbling together a $ 15 million budget , shooting on the streets of Mumbai and then struggling for distribution .

The film 's principals , including Boyle and Beaufoy , were thankful for the support of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association , which presents the Globes .

`` Your mad , pulsating affection for our film is much appreciated , '' said Boyle . Watch stars on the red carpet ''

`` We really were n't expecting to be here in America at all at one time , so it 's just amazing to be here , '' said Beaufoy .

With the film 's victories at the Critics ' Choice Awards last week , it must be considered the front-runner in the Academy Awards ' best picture race . The Academy Award nominations will be announced Thursday , January 22 . iReport.com : Sound off on awards season

Another underdog , actor Mickey Rourke , won best actor in a drama for his performance in `` The Wrestler . '' Rourke , who described himself as `` almost out of the business '' not so long ago , gave credit to his agent for backing him and `` Wrestler '' director Darren Aronofsky for sticking with him when the film had trouble finding funding .

`` The Wrestler '' also won a Globe for its theme song , written and sung by Bruce Springsteen . Watch Golden Globe highlights ''

Kate Winslet was n't considered quite as much an underdog , but she still outdid the odds by winning both categories for which she was nominated : best actress in a drama -LRB- for `` Revolutionary Road '' -RRB- and best supporting actress -LRB- for `` The Reader '' -RRB- . Gallery : Winners at the Globes ''

Perhaps she surprised herself most of all . After winning best supporting actress -- the first award of the evening -- she asked the audience , `` You have to forgive me , because I have a habit of not winning things . '' After the best actress win , she took the stage in a mild state of shock .

`` I 'm so sorry ! Anne , Meryl , Kristin -- oh , God , who 's the other one ? -- Angelina , '' she said , referring to fellow nominees Anne Hathaway , Meryl Streep , Kristin Scott Thomas and Angelina Jolie . Not long after , being told to wrap it up , she said , `` You have no idea how much I 'm not wrapping up , '' before emotionally thanking a variety of people , including co-star Leonardo DiCaprio and husband Sam Mendes , `` Road 's '' director . See the list of Globe winners , nominees

Another win was expected , if tinged with tragedy . The late Heath Ledger won the Golden Globe for best supporting actor for his performance as the Joker in `` The Dark Knight . ''

`` All of us who worked with Heath on ` The Dark Knight ' accept with an awful mixture of sadness but incredible pride , '' said director Christopher Nolan . `` For any of us lucky enough to work with him , he will be eternally missed , but he will never be forgotten . ''

Ledger died almost a year ago of an accidental prescription drug overdose .

Ledger 's performance was widely praised and he is considered the front-runner for an Academy Award for supporting actor . He was 28 when he died on January 22 , 2008 . Oscar nominations will be announced on the first anniversary of his death .

Before the show , `` Knight '' co-star Aaron Eckhart told CNN , `` I 'm considering it his night tonight . ''

The Globes also honor TV programs , and in the television categories there were few surprises . HBO 's miniseries `` John Adams , '' which dominated the Emmy Awards in September with 13 trophies , won four Globes : best actor -LRB- Paul Giamatti -RRB- , best actress -LRB- Laura Linney -RRB- , best supporting actor -LRB- Tom Wilkinson -RRB- and best TV movie or miniseries .

`` Mad Men '' won best TV drama , as it did at the Emmys , and `` 30 Rock , '' another Emmy winner , won best comedy TV series .

Though star Tina Fey was announced as the person to accept that award , she let co-star Tracy Morgan have the microphone .

`` Tina Fey and I had an agreement that if Barack Obama won , I 'd be accepting the awards from now on , '' he said . Fey later won for best TV comedy actress , joining her co-star Alec Baldwin -LRB- best TV comedy actor -RRB- as Globe winners .

The Israeli film `` Waltz With Bashir '' won best foreign-language film . In his speech , director Ari Folman expressed hope for peace in the Middle East .

Noting the `` eight beautiful production babies '' born during the show 's four-year creation , he said he hopes the children can see the film when they get older , and `` I hope it looks like an ancient video game that has nothing to do with their lives whatsoever . ''

Other Globe winners included Sally Hawkins , who won best actress in a musical or comedy for her performance in `` Happy-Go-Lucky '' ; Colin Farrell , who took home best actor in a comedy or musical for `` In Bruges '' ; `` Vicky Cristina Barcelona , '' Woody Allen 's latest , which won best comedy or musical ; and `` WALL-E , '' which won best animated film .

For those casting metaphorical grass blades into the breeze to see which way the Oscar winds are blowing , the `` Globes '' may have created front-runners in some races , confusion in others .

Anne Hathaway had won a few honors for `` Rachel Getting Married , '' but Winslet 's win over her at the Globes creates a tighter contest for best actress . Rourke 's victory is a feel-good story for an actor many had written off , but he may have to face Frank Langella -LRB- Richard Nixon in `` Frost/Nixon '' -RRB- , Sean Penn -LRB- a highly praised Harvey Milk in `` Milk '' -RRB- and Leonardo DiCaprio -LRB- Winslet 's `` Revolutionary Road '' husband -RRB- for best actor . `` Milk , '' in particular , received short shrift from the HFPA ; the Motion Picture Academy is expected to be kinder .

The Globes ' loose atmosphere -- a trademark of the event , which features an open bar and celebrities sitting at large tables -- was evident from the beginning . Jennifer Lopez , noticing a distinct rumble of chatter as she attempted to begin the show , demanded quiet with `` Hello ! Hello ! Mama talkin ' ! '' Later , Tom Wilkinson , having won a supporting actor honor for his performance in the miniseries `` John Adams , '' forgot the last name of a person he wanted to thank .

There were even a couple of TV no-nos on the live broadcast : `` Wrestler '' director Aronofsky humorously flashed Rourke a middle finger as Rourke talked about how hard Aronofsky worked the cast , and one of the `` Slumdog '' producers uttered the F-word upon seeing he was being rushed through his speech .

It was the kind of party people have come to expect from the Globes , a show in which Jack Nicholson once bared his backside and Christine Lahti once was engaged in the ladies ' room upon being named a winner .

And , if throwing a glamorous party in these nervous , market-plunging times seems a little unusual , it 's also something Tinseltown does well -- and that people are expecting , participants said before the broadcast .

`` I think these things are entertainment , '' Mendes told CNN . `` This is people 's escapism . ... I think in that respect they should be embraced . ''

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`` Slumdog Millionaire '' wins best drama ; nets four total wins

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Mickey Rourke wins best actor in a drama for `` The Wrestler ''

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Kate Winslet wins two Golden Globes -- one for actress , another for supporting

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Heath Ledger wins best supporting actor for `` The Dark Knight ''